Six Flags Astroworld

From Free net encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)
Revision as of 21:36, 3 April 2006
205.188.116.67 (Talk | contribs)
/* The closing of Astroworld */
Next diff →

Current revision

Image:TexasCycloneSunset640.jpg Six Flags AstroWorld was a theme park that was part of the Six Flags chain. It was adjacent to the 610 Loop in Houston, Texas, at Template:Coor d. It was the fourth park to be included in the Six Flags family of amusement parks. It was also the first park to be purchased by Six Flags instead of being built. The park was closed on October 30, 2005.

AstroWorld was originally the brainchild of local philanthropist and former Houston mayor Judge Roy Hofheinz, who intended it to complement The Astrodome. The bridge that crosses Loop 610 that connects AstroWorld to its parking lot is the only privately-owned bridge accessible to the public in Harris County, Texas.

Contents

[edit]

History

Image:GreezedLightnin.JPG The theme park opened in 1968. The eight themed areas originally consisted of: Alpine Valley, Americana Square, Children's World, European Village, Modville, Plaza de Fiesta, Oriental Corner, and Western Junction. Original attractions included 610 Limited Train, Alpine Carousel, Alpine Sleigh Ride (dark ride through Der Hohfheinzberg Mountain), Astroway (VonRoll Sky Cars), Astrowheel (double ferris wheel), Barnyard Petting Zoo, Black Dragon (spider/monster ride) Crystal Palace Theater, Orbitor (scrambler), Le Taxi (later Antique Taxis) Lost World Adventure (jungle boat ride through Rio Misterio), Maypole (tea cups), Mill Pond (bumper boats) Shooting Gallery, Skyrama (later Astroneedle), Spinout (car ride), Rub-a-Dub (nursery rhyme themed boat ride), Wagon Wheel (Chance trabant).

AstroWorld was sold to the Six Flags family of theme parks in 1975. It was renamed "AstroWorld, A Six Flags Theme Park" as to not confuse patrons with the Dallas-based original park Six Flags Over Texas. Similarly, Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas is known officially as "Fiesta Texas, A Six Flags Theme Park".

AstroWorld was home to what once was the only pipe-line barrel roll roller coaster in North America (Ultra Twister), planned and designed with Intamin AG, the world's first river rapids ride (Thunder River), and the world's first successful suspended coaster (XLR-8), and it also featured two looping coasters with no over-the-shoulder restraints. It was also home to Batman The Escape, once was the only stand-up roller coaster in the state of Texas. AstroWorld was also the park to debut the S&S Power "Sky Swatter" ride, dubbed Swat. Diablo Falls is the world's tallest spinning water ride.

Six Flags AstroWorld's major claims to fame were the Texas Cyclone, which, when built, was one of the largest wooden roller coasters in the United States; the Ultra Twister, which was widely regarded as one of the most unique rides in the United States. Another claim to fame is Greezed Lightnin, a roller coaster that accelerated from 0 - 60 mph in roughly 4 seconds. Also unique is that the ride is a shuttle loop type coaster, meaning riders traveled both forwards and backwards during the course of the ride. Greezed Lightnin's 1 millionth ride occurred on 10-15-05.

[edit]

The Texas Cyclone

Image:TexasCycloneHeaven.jpg During construction of the Texas Cyclone, a tropical storm destroyed the entire north end turnaround section (as seen in the film Brewster McCloud) causing it to have to be rebuilt and the opening pushed back to June 12, 1976. There are more than 25,000 gallons of paint on the Texas Cyclone. It is made of Douglas Fir lumber. It has over a dozen drops and is one of the few full sized roller coasters in the world to operate without a mid-course brake run. In 2001 it was determined that modifications made to the ride deemed the head-rests unnecessary and they were removed enabling riders a greater view during the course of the ride.

The Cyclone was the last ride to be demolished and was completely leveled sometime between 7:00am and 9:55am on March 9, 2006. A piece of the track was seen on a flatbed and its destination is unknown.

[edit]

Location

Image:AntonSchwarzkopfPlaque.JPG


Six Flags Astroworld was located on approximately 100-acres on the Interstate 610 (South Loop) at Kirby Drive in southern Houston, Texas. The theme and water park was located adjacent to the Reliant Park complex, which consists of convention halls and professional sports venues.

[edit]

The closing of Astroworld

On September 12, 2005, Six Flags announced that it would close the Astroworld theme park at the end of its 2005 season and would sell the 109 acres of land that it currently sits on. Six Flags cited the park's performance, site constraints and parking rights to Reliant Park, the Houston Texans football team, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Six Flags' other park in Houston, Six Flags Splashtown, will remain open.

Although future ownership and plans for the former site have not been determined, many of the park's rides and attractions have been dismantled and removed for transport to other parks. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas has announced 10 new rides for the 2006 season, three of them from Astroworld.

[edit]

External links

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Six_Flags_Astroworld"